Needle



J; MESSING March 8', 1932.

' NEEDLE Filed March 13, 1929 Inn/ante dsephMessz'h/g By @Mmwm Patented Mar. 8; 1-932 1 iUNlT ED STATES;

' aosnrrrmnssme, OFIHILADELPHYIA, PENNSYLVANIA NEEDLE [A lication filed nami 'le, 1929 SerialNo. 346,563.

7 *My invention relates to improvements in' a knitting needle particularly adapted for mending fabric and especially for repairing runs in stockings.

The object of my inventionis to construct a needle which may be operatedrapidly and which does not require skill in guiding the needle through the operations to form the loops in the threads of the fabric for repairing the same; a still further object is to provide a latch needle with a stop for limiting the distance the needle may be inserted into the fabricand preventing the straight,'-or tight, threads of the fabric from passing over to slide over the point of the latch when it'isin the open position; a still further object is to provide a needle'having a'relativelylong hook member, which forms a guide permitting the needle to be reciprocated suflicientlyto form the loops in the thread without the hook slipping out of the fabric, thus per mitting the needle to be operated with greater speed than could be done with a needle having a short round hook with which the length of the strokes would necessarily be very short; a still further object of my invention is to provide a needle having an extremely short latch so that the point of the latch will not engage more than one straight'threadwhen the latchis passed into and out of the fabric to form the loops; a still further object is to form the hook end of the needle with a curved portion which is slightly pointed, with the point thereof located nearer in longitudinal alignment with the open side of the hookthan with the shank side of the hook. These together with various other novelrfeatures' of construction" and arrangement of the parts,

" which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, constitute my invention.

' Referring tothe' accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved needle, greatly'enlarged, and also showing afabric which is to be repaired; Fig. 2 is'a'front the point of the latch and permitting the loop elevation of the needle with the latch in the open position as shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 8-3, Fig; 2 Fig. tis a transverse sectional View on line 4%, Figs. 2"and 7 Fig. 5 is a side'elevation i of the needle showing it inserted int-o a loop of the fabric; and Figs. 6 to 9,- inclusive, are views similar to Fig. 5 illustrating different steps in theop'eration'of the needle to form the loops for repairing the fabric.

-In the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts; 10 represents the needle consisting of a shank 12,having a handle 14 upon the upper end; and a hook16 lo'cated'upon the opposite end thereof. The hook 16 comprises a shank member 17 and a point member 18, which are located in parallel relation with each other,

and acurved end portion having a lower end member consisting of a gradually'curved 'por tion'l9 and a'sharply curved portion 20 forming the extreme lower end 21 of the hook, which is located nearer in longitudinal alignment'with the point member 18 than with the shank member 17 ,as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

of the shank. The latch 24 coacts with the point of the hook 18in a manner similar to other latch needles.v a I The novel feature of the'prese'nt 'latchre sides in the short construction of the'point of the'latch,so that it will not-engage'more thread by the pOint'of-the latch would tend Y to break the thread during-the opening move-I merit of the latch. The short construction 7, from entering the space of the latch 24 is also of great advantage in forming a stitch due to the fact that when the needle is being withdrawn from the fabric, as shown in Fig. 8, the closing of the latch if it were the usual length would possibly engage two straight threads at and force them into the throat 21 of the hook as the latch closes down upon the latter, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. By thus making the latch extremely short only one thread a will be engaged and forced into the hook, as shown in Fig 9.

Theneedle 10 is provided with a stop 30 located above the latch 24:, when in the open position, for limiting the distance the needle may be inserted into the fabric. is so arranged that it engages the straight threads a of the fabric and prevents the nee dle being inserted far enough into the fabric to allow the point of the latch 24 to engage any of the straight threads a; of the fabric. Said stop comprises a plate 31, which may be formed in one piece or in two separate pieces secured ,upon or formed integral with the shank 12. Said plate 31 is positioned upon one edge of the shank 12 and is positionedin a plane parallel with the latch 24 and the hook 16. The plate 31 forms a support for the lips 32 and 33 which form the stop 30. Said lips are of sufiicient width to project above the upper surface of the latch 24, when in the position shown in Fig. 7, and engage a straight thread a and stop it from sliding over the point of the latch. The lips 32 and 33 are positioned in spaced relation with each other, thus forming a space for the entrance of the point of the latch between said lips when the latch is in the open position.

Said lips project from the plate 31 toward the latch and are located in spaced relation with the shank 12 to form a space 34, which may be occupied by the looped thread '6 after it has passed over top of the latch into the space 34:. The ends of the lips 32 and 33 are provided with V-shaped notches 35 for better engaging a straight thread a. Said lips overlap the point of the latch 24 when it is in the open position, thus preventing a straight thread a, which is located upon the upper surface of the latch, as shown in Fig.

The lips 32 and 33 are positioned in spaced relation with the sides of the latch 24, thus providing suficient space between the lips and the point of the latch to permit a thread 5, which is looped around the latch and the shank, to freely slide over the point of the latch between the lips and occupy the space 3% between the plate 31 and the latch; and at the same time said lips will engage one or more cross threads (1 and prevent them from entering said space 34.

The operation of my improved needle is as follows; the hook end IG-ofthe needle is inserted into the loop 5 of the fabric which is Said stop to be knitted with the straight threads at for repairing the run or dropped stitch of the fabric. Fig. 5 shows the needle extended further into the fabric to a position in which the loop I) has opened the latch and entered the throat 21 of the hook. The straight or cross thread a opens the latch as the needle is further inserted into the fabric. Fig. 6 illustrates that the latch 24: can swing from the closed position to the open position without the point of the latch interlocking with the straight threads a and breaking the same. The needle is further inserted intothe fabric so that the loop 1) moves over the latch and passes between the lips 32 and 33 of the stop, thus allowing theloopbto pass over the point of the latch and occupy the space 34, as shown in Fig. 7.

The stop formed by the lips 32 and 33 engage the straight threads a and prevent them from passing over the point of the latch and also limiting, the distance, the needle maybe movededow nwardly into the fabric.

Fig. 8 illustrates the needle being withdrawn from the fabric. The loop. 7) slides over the shank, engaging the latch and closing the same upon onethreada, thus helping to direct the latter through the throat 21, so that it will be engaged by the. point of the hook 1 6'. The-loop b, as the needle is further withdrawn, slides over the latch 24 and over the hook 16, as shown in. Fig.9; A further upward movement of the needle causes the hook 16 to engage the crossxthread a, which movement of the: hook d-raw'ssaidcross thread through the loop I), thus com-- pleting the stitch in the usual. manner. The successive stitches may be formed rapidly by simply moving the needle up. and down through the fabric. The stop automatically limits the downward movementof the needle and permits only a loop 6 to pass over the upper end of the latch. The upward stroke of the needle can be quite extensive due to the extremely long portions 17 and 18- of the hook, which portions form guides. for directing the movements of the needle, and the novel shape of the lower portion ofv the hook 16 directs the needle over the next adjacent cross thread a at the beginning of a clownward stroke to form a newloop, thus permitting the needle to be rapidly operated.

Various changes in the. construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from my invention.

I claim l. A needle for mending knitted fabric comprising, a shank, a hook. upontheshank, a stop mounted upon the shank for engaging the fabric and limiting. thedistance the shank may be inserted into the latter, a latch haw ing one end pivotally mounted upon the shank at a point midway between the point of-thehookand' the stop whereby the point of the latch will overlapthe point: of the hook and overlap the stop when in the closed and open positions, respectively, and said stop positioned in spaced relation with the latch upon the shank with its free end overlapping the point of the hook to close the latter permitting a thread looped around the shank to pass over the latch, a plate mounted upon the shank located in spaced relation with the point of the latch when the latter is in the open position relatively to the hook, a lip upon said plate projecting toward said hook and overlapping the point of the latch when in the open position, and said lip having sufficient width projecting above the latch to form a stop for engaging a straight'thread of the fabric extending over the latch'and forming a stop for limiting the distance the lip above said plate projecting toward said.

shank may be inserted into the fabric.

3. A needle for mending knitted fabric comprising, a shank, a hook upon the shank,

a latch having one end overlapping the pointof the hook to close the latter permitting a thread looped around the shank to pass over the latch, a plate mounted upon the shank above the point of the latch when'in the" open position relatively to the hook, a lip upon said plate projecting toward said hook and overlapping the point of the latch when in the open position, said lip projecting above the latch forming a stop for limiting the distance the shank may be inserted into th fabric, and said lip positioned in spaced relation with the side of the latch whereby the point of the latch may swing past the lip permitting a looped thread to'pass between the latch and the lip.

4. A needle for mending knitted fabric comprising, a. shank, a hook upon the shank,

a latch having one end pivotally mounted upon the shank with its free end overlapping the point of the hook to close the latter permitting a thread looped around the shank to pass over the latch, a plate mounted upon the shank above the point of the latch when in the open position relatively to the hook, a

hook overlapping the point of the latch when in the open position, said lip having a notch formed therein for engaging a straight thread of the fabric for preventing said straight; u in which one end of the latch is pivoted, a-

hook of relatively long" formation upon one thread from passing beyond the point of the latch when in the open position, and said lip positioned in spaced relation with the side of the latch for permitting said looped thread to pass between the latch and the lip.

5. A needle for mending knitted fabric p comprising, a shank, a hook upon the shank, a latch having one end pivotally mounted upon the shank with'its free end overlapping the point of the hook to close the latter permittinga thread looped around the shank to pass over the; latch, a plate mountedupon the shankabo'vethe point of the latch when in the open position relatively to the hook,a 1

lip upon said plate overlapping the pointof the latch'when in the open position and form'- ing'a stop for limiting the distance the shank may be inserted into the fabric, and said lip positioned in spaced relation with the' shank for the free passage of a thread looped around the latch and around the shankto pass over the point of the latch'into-a position between the latch and the shank. 1

c'omprising,a=shank, a hook upon the shank, a latch having one end pivotally mounted upon theshank and its free end overlapping the point of the hook to close the latter, a plate mounted upon the shank above the point of the latch when in the open position rela-' tively to the hook, lips mounted upon said position between the latch and said plate, said 6. ;A- needle for. mending knitted fabric j lips overlapping the point of the latch when 7 the latter is in the open position forminga stop for engaging a straight thread for limiting the distance the needle may be inserted into the fabric relatively to thelatch.

7. A needle for mending knitted fabric comprising, a shank, a hook formed upon the end of the shank, a latch having one end pivoted upon the shank and its free end movable in a plane in alignment with the plane 7 of the hook and coacting with the latter, an upstanding member mounted upon the shank positioned upon the edgeof the latter upon which the hook and latch are positioned, said member having lips positioned in spaced relation to each other, said lips diverging from each other and located at opposite sides of the latch when the latter is in the open position permitting a thread which is looped around the latch and the shank to pass between said lips and over the point of the latch,'and said lips overlapping the point of the latch when in the open position forming a stop for engaging a straight thread on top of the latch and preventing it from passing over the point of thevlatch when the latter is in the open position.

8; A needle for mending knitted fabric comprising, a shank, a latch, said shank having an enlarged portion forming a bearing end of said shank having its end terminating in close proximity to saidenlarged portion of the shank, said latch having an extreme- 1y short formation with its free end terminatposite side: of said enlarged portion of the shank relatively'to the. hook, lips mounted uponsaid plate. extending toward saidlat-ch in spaced relation with said shank, said lips positioned in spaced relation with each other to receive the point. of the latch-between them when the; latch is in the open position relatively to the hook and allow a looped, thread to pass over the point of the latch, said lips having sufficient width to form a stop projecting abovethe top surface of the latch when the latter is in the open position for engaginga straight thread and prevent ing it from passing over the point of the latch when in the open position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my. signature.

JOSEPH MESSI'NG. 

